BREAKAWAY league officials last night assured fans they would not face a massive price rise to watch their favourites next season.

The new Scottish Premier League Ltd was officially given the go-ahead this week after months of speculation. However, the new league's spokesman, Chris Robinson, the Hearts chief executive, has calmed fears that the new league will be paid for by a massive rise in admission prices.

Robinson said: ''The situation before was that the Scottish League advised the clubs of the minimum admission prices, and they set their own admission fee.

''Celtic and Rangers have already set their season ticket prices, Hearts will do so shortly, and admission prices need to be announced at the same time.

''Although prices usually go up slightly each season, I would imagine the increase certainly won't be a big one.''

qTHREE major local football associations - Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, and Ayrshire - will lose their identity in a year's time and merge into the West of Scotland FA following the acceptance of the Ernie Walker think tank proposals on Tuesday at the SFA - but there has been a quick reaction.

Last night, opposition was growing as it was pointed out that nine senior clubs, including Premier League Kilmarnock and Motherwell, will have only one representative on the SFA council and yet 20 per cent of the population live in the area.

The Renfrewshire association decided that their ''disappointment and disagreement will be communicated directly to the SFA'' and that could lead to a move to stop the merger at next year's annual meeting.

The new association will also have to decide what to do with three tournaments - the Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, and Ayrshire cups.

Lanarkshire FA secretary Alan Dick, of Motherwell, said: ''It would be difficult to merge them into a West of Scotland Cup with up to 12 clubs, including amateur clubs, taking part.''